{"id":114550,"date":"2024-08-30T01:58:00","date_gmt":"2024-08-30T06:58:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.unmc.edu\/newsroom\/?p=114550"},"modified":"2024-09-03T16:07:07","modified_gmt":"2024-09-03T21:07:07","slug":"bhecn-partnership-strengthens-the-behavioral-health-workforce","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.unmc.edu\/newsroom\/2024\/08\/30\/bhecn-partnership-strengthens-the-behavioral-health-workforce\/","title":{"rendered":"BHECN partnership strengthens the behavioral health workforce"},"content":{"rendered":"
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A unique BHECN partnership of graduate-level education programs brings competitors and workers from multiple disciplines together to strengthen Nebraska\u2019s behavioral health workforce.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Formed in 2016, the partnership \u2013 called the Nebraska Be<\/a>h<\/a>avioral Health Education Partnership (NEBHEP<\/a>) \u2013 is beginning to attract national attention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The partnership was created to increase awareness of the statewide need for\u00a0behavioral health services and provide a unified voice for behavioral health education programs, said Joe Evans, PhD, BHECN\u2019s clinical director in 2016.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NEBHEP\u2019s effectiveness has caught the attention of people outside of Nebraska. BHECN will give a presentation about the partnership in September at the National Academy for State Health Policy Conference in Nashville.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The partnership\u2019s first events included informal dinners among partners, and there was initial skepticism about how effective NEBHEP could be, Dr. Evans said, adding that many participants also competed for students and patients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt became clear quickly, however, that the partners had many areas where they could collaborate,\u201d Dr. Evans said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bringing together partners who are competitors is one of the more innovative aspects of NEBHEP, said Kati Cordts, PhD, BHECN\u2019s associate director of education and training. In her role, Dr. Cordts oversees NEBHEP, which is composed of 19 academic institutions that provide graduate-level behavioral health education in Nebraska.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAt first glance, there might seem to be little reason for many of our partners to work together, considering there are indeed areas where they compete,\u201d Dr. Cordts said. \u201cBut the reality is there continues to be ample room for them to work together and learn from each other, and this has powerful ramifications for our state\u2019s workforce.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

David Hof, a counseling professor at the University of Nebraska at Kearney, said one basic way NEBHEP has fostered collaboration is that partners will refer potential students to each others\u2019 programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThrough the partnership, I have gotten to know other counseling programs in Nebraska, and there are times when our program doesn\u2019t have room for more students that I recommend they apply for other programs at different institutions,\u201d Hof said. \u201cThe bottom line is, we need to get more students trained and into the workforce. In that regard, we are all collaborators when it comes to caring for those who need our services.\u201d  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For Sara Banzhaf, DNP, track leader for the Creighton University College of Nursing\u2019s Psychiatric-Mental Health Track, NEBHEP collaboration has helped her better understand the challenges that face other behavioral health workers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This increased understanding has helped Dr. Banzhaf\u2019s program train students to be stronger partners and collaborators when they become practicing professionals. This stands to benefit the patients they treat, she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Input from partners also has helped BHECN create educational programs and other offerings designed to meet key state workforce needs, Dr. Cordts said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Those programs include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n